Thermostat.



2 SHEETS-SHEET 1. 50

Patented Feb. y16, 1909.

E. W. GOMFQRT.

THERMOSTAT.

Mdm l APPLICATION FILED MAB. 30, 1905.

E. w. COMFORT. THERMOSTAT.

APPLICATION FILED MAR-30, 1905.

912,288. Patented Feb.16,1909.

2 SHBBTS-SHEET 2.

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unirse sfraiss PATENT OFFICE.

EOWARD W. COMFORT, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO NATIONAL REGULATOR COM- PANY, OF GHCAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF LLINOIS.

rmi-innerer..

No. eiaess.

specification or Leiters Patent.

Patented Feb. 16, 1909.

Application filed March 80, 1905. Serial No. 252,88.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that lx, EDWARD W. Contreras, a citizen or"the United States, residing at. Chicago, in the county of Coeli andState of companying drawing, forming apart of thisA specification.

My invention relates' to improvements in tliermostatic devices designed to control the flow of fluid under pressure, so that a slight change of temperature will admit l'liiid against the piston or diaphragm of a motor and a corresponding reversed change of temperature will cause the vfluid to escape from the motor.. Such devices are' particu-l larly used in controlling the admission of steam to radiators in apartments and thereby operating to control the heat of the apartment, and my invention is particularly adapt-ed -for work oi' this character and is especially7 designed for controllingjthe ad missionof fluid under'pressure Vto a motor controlling a steam valve in such' a. manner that the valve willl be actuated positively.`

That is, when the valve has once started to open or close it must complete its movement before stopping or starting'to move in a reverse direction. ln tliermostatic devices of this character, which have heretotore heen constructed,` the 'thermostatic element has A been arranged to form a casing or chamber in which two valves are provided controlling inlet and outlet ports to said chamber or casing, said chamber or casing being connected by pipes with a sourcev of fluid under pressure and with the motor to be controlled. Through mechanical connections bet-Ween the tliermostatic element and the valves, the valves have been adapted to be operated to open and close the ports under'the slow and gradual change in the length of the thermo stat, thereby controlling the admission to or escape of liuid from theniotor and operating the same to open or close the steam-valve. 3 ln these devices of the prior art, when the valve controlling the admission o- `fluid under pressure to the thermostat is open, the outlet valve is closed and the thermostat subjected to full pressure of the fluid furnishing power to operate the system. This' pressure exerted upon thev interior of the 'casing formed by the thermostat tendsto produce an extension olf' the saine. On the other hand, when the' heat to which the thermostat is subjected decreases, to a predetermined v degree, the thermostat will contract, closing the inlet port and opening'the outlet port, L permitting the escape of fluid under pressure which will relieve the pressure upon the interior ict the-casing,r 'and cause a further shortening vof the thermostat, accelerating thel movement of the thermostatic valve. Without this additional. movement given to the thermostat by the change in pressure, if

in temperature is such as to' just close the inlet valve and not" sufficient to open the motor will gradually escape and permit the motor to partially open the steam valve, resulting in the accumulation of Water in the radiator.' i However, by the provision of this additional movement` given `the thermostat by the change in pressure therein when the pressure in the thermostat' decreases, the thermostat will shorten and operate' to open the outlet valve independently of the change in temperature, thus insuring the `full open'- ing or the full elosingof the steam valve. It will. he seen, however,l that this 4operation depends upon the stretch of the thermostat vunder pressure and as this pressure'is fre- :quently very low, the extent to which the 'thermostat maybe stretched is small.

It is, therefore, one ofthe objects ofvm'y tions of pressure and l amA enabledl to accomplish. thisl by providing a casing which is independent or' .the .thermostat and 'arranging a flexible diaphragm inthe casing, which is connected' with the theimostat b an elastic coupling. By varying thepfsiz lol the diaphragm and tlie'stren th of the elasticonnection, I am enable to secure any auxiliary to the thermostatic action.

l have illustrated .one manner of accomplishing the above mentioned object in the accompanying drawings, in which:`

Figure l" is a' section talreiithrough the thermostat and casing, but showing the valves and controlling mechanism in front elevation;-Fig. 2 is a sectional view `taken through the thermostat and casing, showin the. valves and operatingmechansmin si ef the outlet valve leaks slightly and the change outlet valve, then the fluid pressure in the invention to provide means whereby a larger and more responsive movement of the valvego may he given, corresponding to thevariaf desired amount o action independent of'and fluid pressure supply for operating the valve controlling the ordinary steam radiator.

YReferring rst to Fi 4, in the room 1l whose temperature is to e controlled, is arvranged my improved thermostat 2, which is connected by a pipe 3 with a tank 4 containing Huid 4under pressure. and by another pipe 5 with). motor 6, which is adapted to "open and close the valve 7 ofthe steam' pipe \81eading"'tothe radiator 9. The valve 7 15 controls the sup ly of steam through the pipe 8 tothe ra' iator 9 thereby controlling the heat of the room 1. Y The motor 6 is preferably so constructed that when `fluid under -pressure is admitted 'thereto, it will operate to close the valve 7 andas the fluid pressure esca es therefrom 'the tendency w-ill be to open t e valve.

lThe articular construction of my referred orm of thermostat is illustrate in Figs. 1 to 3, inclusive, of the drawings.

'A Uponthe base 10, which is rovided on its"y lower side with the hollow s ield 11, is sejcured a thermostatic tube 12, preferably construotedl of hard rubber, this tube being 9,0v preferably at its lower end screw-threaded and screwed upon'the projecting plug 13 of the base. The upper port1on of the plug .13 above that pi'tion to which the tube 12 is, secured, is slightly reduced and .mounted Vupon this reduced portion, by screwing the Samev thereon, is the `c lindrlcahcasing 14, vin which the valve mechanism is adapted to be mounted. The upper end of this' casing is provided. with an inturned1 annular i4() shoulder 15,*upon whichis mounted a flexible. diaphragm 16,. the diaphragm being .held between the shoulder 15 and aring or other securing means 17, fastened to the shoulder.- f

" Projecting from the plug 13 of the base,

are a pair of posts 18 and 19, and extending rom'the upper en'd of the `ost-19, is a fiat spring 20, which forms a lcrum for the Across-arm 21 of the valve arm 22. The lower 250. end ofthe Avalve armhas formed thereon the valve 23, which when seated closes the port or passage V24, extending through the post 19 and base 10, and communicating -wit-h the pipe 3 .leading from the fluid pressure supply. A filter 25 is provided in the base forl preventing any small articles-of dust con- 4Atained in the fluid lun er pressure from entering through 'said port. The second post or vsupport 18 extends from the plug 13 and post is also provided at its upper end f with a vertically arran d flat `spring 27, which forms a fulcrum or the cross-arm 28 carrying a valve arm 29. The lower end of theyalve arm carries a valve Qnwhich when 6,6 seated c1oses.,-a port'or passagel extending its suspen vof which is connected with' one end of a cross-yoke 38. The' opposite end of this cross-yoke is connected by a link 39 with the upper end ofthejvalve arm 22. An additional port or passage 52 is provided which 80 connects t-he chamberwithin the'casing 14 directly with the motor through the pipe 5. In the vupper-face of the yoke 38, between ed extremities, is a' conical depression, in which rests the conical lower endpof a thrust-pin 40. The upper end of this thrust-pin 40 is enlarged and has formed therein a conical depression, into which is adapted to fit the lower end of the transmission rod 41, a portion of which is coiled, as at 42,' to make a flexible conntion between `the diaphra m and the screw 48. Near its lower end, t e transmission rod is adapted to pass through and be connected with the diaphragm 16, nuts 43 'and 44 being screw- 95 threaded upon the rod between which the' diaphragm is adapted to be clamped. Secured upon the upper end of the thrust-pin is a circular disk 45, of sulicient size to lit within the casing 14 and keep the thrust-pin 100 in a vertical'position. A similar disk 46 is provided at the upper `end of the transmission rod 41 to also maintain the transmission rod in a verticalfposfition.

lV'thin the upperI end of the thermostatie 105v tube 12 fits' a screw-threaded plug 47, through which is adapted to be screwed an` adjustable screw 48, having formed in its lowerl end ya conical depression, in which is adapted to rest' the conical upper end of the 110 transmission rod 41. Avnut having. a suitable indicator thereon is mounted upon the upper endof the-screw 48 Aand is secured thereto by a small set screw 49. By means of. this nut the screw .48 may be rotated and the adjustment of the transmission rod 41 accomplished. After the screw 48 has been set it is preferably covered by a cap or casing 50, which isvscrcwedvupon a shoulder 51 of the plug 47.

In the operation ofthe thermostat, the

tube or thermostatic element 12 will expand and contract under the-rise and fall in temperature and in so doing, it will move the transmission rod 41 and the diaphragm 16. 1254 Any movement of the diaphragrnwill' be transmitted through the thrust-pm 40, to the yoke 38, to operate thve valves 23 and 30. As'-.- suming, for the urpose of describing the operatlon morev v lly, .that the valve 30 is "1.30.

aia-,aas

.- closed and that' the valve 23 is held open by the -spr1ng;2(}; under these conditions air is supphedto the motor and thestea-m valve i l vTis closed; .As the temperature in the room 5.alls, the tube l2 will contract, exerting a V dmvnward pressure upon the transmission 41 and thrust-pin 40. -The downward pressure of the thrust-pin will tend to close ,-theinlet "valve 23 and at the same time this 1o pressure will tend to unseat the outlet valve 30,.-a`s the' yoke isconnected to the arm 32 a'sflongas. the valvearm is free to move.

f temperature becomes too high, the expan-V .r 30 to close and the. valve 23 to open, admit- As soon as the closing movement of tfne valve arm 22 is arrested by the seating of the inlet valve 23, any further downward pressure of the thrust-pin 40, will move the valve arm 29 `and unseat the outlet valve 30. Unseating the valve 3 0 opens the port 3l and permits the air to escape from' the motor to the atmosphere. This opens the valve 7 and admits steam to the radiator. lVhen the sion'of the thermostat will permit the valve ting the iuid under pressure to' the motor and closing the valve 7;

"As the".casing M is independent of the thermostat and the pressure 'therein does not a-ifect the thermostat, itV will be seen that 'asthe inlet valve 23is closed,cutting ofi the 'supply of duid under pressure, and valve 30 A opened, the pressure in the. casing 14 will be decreased, reducing the pressure` against the diaphragm 16 and the action of the thermy "stat closing the valve 23 will-be augmented or accelerated by the -pressure of spring 42,. opening thevalre 30 more rapidly. Assuming 'that' the outlet valive 30 is open and the inlet valve 23 closed, thenas the thermosta-t expands and permits the rvalve 30 to close and valve 23to open, the pressure coniiiig through Yal've 23 will acton 'the diaphragm and force it up, accelerating the action of the thermostatic element.

In order that the air in the portion. of the tube 12, situated above the 'diaphragm 1G, may remain at atmospheric pressure lnn 4aperture 53,- (Fig. l) communicating lifith the atmosphere, is formed through the side of the tube 12.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire tosecure by' Letters Patent is: p

1.*The combination with a casing and two valves control-ling the inlet and outlet thereof, of a thermostat independent of said casing, mechanical connections between said 'thermostat `and said valves responsive to a gradual push or pull of said thermostat in either direction to' positively close one ofsaid valves before the lopening lof the otherv and means for accelerating the action of they thermostat.

2. The combination with a casing and ltwo valves-controlling the inlet and outlet thereof, ot a thermostat independent of the casing, interdependent mechanical connections between said valves and said thermostat responsive tothe action of said thermostat in either direction to positively close one valre and positively open the other, the

opening of either valve being eiected through its connections with the other and the thermostat soI that its opening follows' and depends, upon the closing of the other without appreciable interyal and means for accelerating the action of the thermostat.

3. The combination with .a hollow ther-v mostat, of an independent casing thereinv having 'a pressure chamber, an inlet and an outletvalve for said pressure chamber, valve operatingmechanism within said casing, and mechanical connection between said thermostat and' said -valre operating mechanism for positively closing one of said valves before opening the other.

t.- The combination with a casing and two valves controlling the inlet and outlet thereof, of a thermostat independent of said casing,1 reciprocating connections .between said thermostat Aand said valves whereby a push or pull on the thermostat in contracting or expanding tends to 'open one valve and close the other, the time of opening of either valve being determined and dependent upon the closing ofthe other and means for accelerating the action of the thermostat.

5. The combination with. a casing having a pressure chamber therein and provided with an inlet and an outlet valve, of a hollow.v thermostat independent of. and inclosing said casing, means aiiording connectionI between said thermostat vand said valvesfor4 closing either of said valves before opening the' other, and means for accelerating the action oi the thermostat'.

6. The combination of a casing having a pressure chamber, an outlet and an inlet valve :tor said chamber, a thermostat independent ot. and inclosing, said casing, valve operating mechanism. within said casing, and means attording'mechanical connection between said thermostat andsaid valve operating mechanism for closing one of the said vvalves and thereafter opening the other of Vsaid valves.

7. The combination with a casing having an inlet port adapted to be connected with the supply, and an outlet port opening to the atmosphere, of a pipe leading from said casing tothe motor, valves within said casing and controlling said inlet and outlet ports, a thermostat independentV of said casing to operate said valves so as to close one before opening the other and means for accelerat-- valves, said means being arranged within said casin and adapted to close one ofsaid valves be ore opening the other.

9. The combination with a casing, an outlet and inlet valve therefor, of a thermostat independent of said casing, connections between said thermostat and said valves for closing either of said valves before opening the other, and means for accelerating the action of the thermostat. f

10. The combination with a casing having two valves controlling'the inlet and outlet thereof, of a thermostat for operating said valves and a diaphragm operatively connected with said valves and adapted to assist said thermostat in its action upon said valves.

11. The combination with a hollow thermostat, of a casing within the thermostat having an inlet port adapted to be connected with a sour`ce of fluid supply and an outlet port opening to theatmosphere, a connection from said casing to the motor or equivalent device, a valve for eaclrof said ports, Said valves being operated by said thermostat to admit fluid under pressure to or exhaust the same from the motor in response to temperature changes, and valve controlling mechanism to cause the open valve to close before the closed valve opens.

l2. The combination lwith a hollow tube forming a thermostat, of a casing iittin within the tube but independent thereo said casing having an inlet port adapted to be connected with a source of fluid supplT and an outlet portopening to the atmosphere, a connection from said casing to the motor, a valve for each of said ports, said valves being-operated by said thermostat to `admit fluid under pressure to and exhaust same from the motor, a'nd valve controlling .mechanism within the casing to cause one valve to close before the other opens.

13. The combination with a casing having an inlet port adapted to be connected with a source of fluid under pressure and an outlet port opening to the atmosphere, of a connection from said casing to the motor, a valve for each of said ports, a thermostat independent of said casing to operate said valves in response to temperature changes to admit fluid under pressure to and to ex'- haust same from the motor, valve controlling mechanism to cause the open. valve to close before the other valve o ens, and means under pressure and an outlet port ope to the atmosphere, of a connection from sai casing to the motor, a valve foreach of said inlet and outlet ports, a thermostat independent of said casing and for causingsaid valves to operate to admit fluid under preslals sure and to exhaust the same from the motor, a controlling mechanism forvoperating said valves, said casing having a 'portion of thel wall thereof flexible and adapted to respond to the pressure within the casing, and a connection between said flexible wall and said.l

valve controlling mechanism and between said flexible wall and said thermostat.

15. The 'combination with a hollow ther-l mostat, of a casing Within the thermostat havingza flexible wall, said casing having an inlet port adapted to be connected with a.,

source of fluid supply and 'an 'outlet port opening to the atmosphere, a connection from said casing to the motor, a valveor each of said ports, valve-operating andciiresponse 4to temperature changes'to admit.

Huid under pressure to'v and exhaust same from the motor, and said flexible wall being responsive to the variations of pressure iqo within the casing.

16. The combination with a thermostaticf tube, of a casing fitting within oneend of the thermostatic tube but independent thereof, an inlet port and outlet port for'said casing, valves for said ports, a flexible diaphragm forming the inner end Wall of said' casing, a mechanical connect1on between said diaphragm and the opposite end'of the thermostat, controlling mechanism between the inner side of said diaphragm and the valves located within the casing, said connection and mechanism serving to open and-close said valves in response to temperature changes and t'o cause the closing of one Valve before the other opens, the said diaphragm being responsive to the changes'of pressure within the casing.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto subscribedmy namein the presence of two witnesses.

' EDWARD W. COMFORT.-l Witnesses: 4

W. PERRY HALM,

R. RooHroRD. 

